The Importance of Using a Crate by: Mary Reid You have just brought home your precious new puppy. There is no more pressing task for you than to see to it that your puppy eliminates where you feel he needs to. Puppies should always have a designated area to eliminate. As a matter of fact, most puppies who have not been trained correctly in elimination are usually abandoned in the first year because their owners cannot put up with the constant mess.

There are natural instincts in dogs which make house training a fairly simple process. Puppies that are taught the process of elimination correctly tend to keep their "den areas" clean. This is why crate training is so vital in training the new pup.When dogs eliminate they leave scent chemicals called pheromones in their waste. When dogs smell this scent it causes a reflex to eliminate in the same spot.

Some people think crate training is barbaric, however, dogs are den animals. They feel most secure in a den enclosure. This is why a lot of dogs will lie under the table or beds. By using a crate, you are providing your dog with his own safe den and they will try hard to keep it clean. A puppy should not be left in the crate for longer than 3 hours. Anymore time and he will not be able to hold himself. This also creates a regular schedule for elimination.

There are other benefits to using a crate too. Crates are great for transporting your puppy by car. They help to keep him safe from sudden stops and swerves. Crates prevent young pups from getting into too much mischief! We all know how it feels to find the little one chewing on our favorite shoes or coffee table legs. Crates are great to house your pup when staying at hotels or friends homes.

There will always be times when you can have your eye on your pup. Having a crate helps greatly in these situations and provides your puppy with a spot that he will always be comfortable and safe. Find a good pet supply company that offers a variety of crates in different shapes and sizes and be sure to match the crate to the dog, (size).

Top Ten Terrier Dog Breeds by: Mark Ransome The Terrier Group includes those small but lively terrier breeds that were developed (mainly in Great Britain) to hunt small burrowing animals such as badgers, foxes, otters, rabbits and rats. The terrier often had to follow the prey underground and therefore, except for the Bull and Airedale Terriers, most terriers are small and stocky with short legs. These are feisty and energetic dogs that have little tolerance for other animals including other dogs. Of course these small dog breeds have been domesticated and make good pets but they are still fairly active and require firm handling. Many breeds like the Airedale, Bull, Fox and the Parson (Jack) Russell Terriers do best with experienced owners. The top 10 most popular terrier breeds in the US according to the American Kennel Club 2005 registrations are discussed below and their registration rank is included in brackets. It is interesting to note that the top six most popular terriers are all low-shedding dog breeds that are said to be hypoallergenic when properly groomed.

1. Miniature Schnauzer

Minis (#10) are lively, pleasant and playful with expressive personalities. These loyal and devoted small dogs want to be totally involved in all family activities and love to go for walks. Most Minis are good with children but are a little too small to be a toddler's pet. They will generally get along fine with other family pets although they are terriers and can be feisty toward other dogs. Early socialization and obedience training will help with controlling excessive barking and a reluctance to walk on leash. This breed can be taught fairly easily and can even excel at advanced obedience competitions.

2. West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White (#32) is cheerful, bold, assertive, courageous, inquisitive and has a great deal of personality. This small white dog needs to get involved in everything that is happening in the home. The Westie is easier to handle and friendlier than many other terriers but still needs his daily walks and play sessions. Westies will try and dominate dogs of the same sex but otherwise get along better with other dogs and cats than most terriers. The Westie still has its hunting prey drive and shouldn't be let off leash except in a fenced enclosed area. The Westie is very possessive of its toys and food and doesn't like to be handled by young children.

3. Scottish Terrier

The Scottie (#40) is a small dog breed with a jaunty and distinctive appearance. The Scottie is brave, alert, proud, confident, loyal and dignified. While friendly and playful as puppies, the mature Scottish Terrier can be stubborn at times. Therefore it is important to start socializing and obedience training the Scottie while it is a puppy and continue through adolescence. Scotties love to play, so make sure you add play and rewards to your training. The Scottish Terrier does best with older children.

4. Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier (#41) is one of the smallest of the working terrier dog breeds. These terriers are bold, spirited and inquisitive but are also somewhat independent-minded. The Cairn is intelligent, affectionate and eager to please its master. This breed is easily trained and likes to do tricks although they may be the tricks that he - not you - wants to do. Cairns do well with older children and love to play games. These Terriers demand lots of attention but will provide you with hours of entertainment in return.

5. Airedale Terrier

The medium-sized Airedale Terrier (#52) is larger than most Terriers and has an even temperament and sweet disposition, although some Airedales can get into fights with other dogs. This terrier is dignified, patient, loyal and intelligent and makes a great companion dog that loves to play with children. The Airedale should be supervised with young children as it may be too boisterous for them. Airedales can be trained to a high level as anything from a guard dog or watchdog to a seeing-eye dog. Airedale puppies are playful and exuberant and obedience training should be started early and re-enforced through adulthood by a knowledgeable owner.

6. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

The Wheaten Terrier (#59) is cheerful, active, busy, playful and affectionate. The Wheaten is independent and self confident but also fairly intelligent and eager to learn. Wheaten puppies should be socialized early with children, other dogs and strangers. The breed is fairly easy to train if you can get their attention. Wheatens get along fine with older children but can be too playful and assertive with young children. Wheatens are much more sociable than most terriers but will still need obedience training to control their active and assertive nature.

7. Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier (#62) or 'Bullie' is a lively and powerful dog. Bull Terriers are fearless, assertive, comical and mischievous. This large breed is loyal, affectionate and loving and can make a good family pet. Bullies are probably too exuberant for small children but will do fine with considerate older children. Bull Terriers need lots of attention and may not be the best choice for the city unless they are involved in lots of family activities. These dogs can be quite strong willed and are difficult to train. The breed needs early socialization when they are puppies and on-going obedience training. Male Bullies, especially those which haven't been neutered, can be extremely aggressive with other male dogs and even other pets.

8. American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire (#63) is usually calm and friendly with an air of self confidence; this powerful medium-sized breed is active, playful, affectionate and relatively easy to train. The Am Staff loves playing with older children but is too boisterous for young children. However this dog is fearless and is not to be trusted around cats or other dogs. The Am Staff has powerful jaws and will destroy any toys you give it to chew. This breed needs early socialization to other dogs and strangers and on-going obedience training. The Am Staff is the largest of the three breeds generally referred to as Pit Bulls. The other two are the American Pit Bull Terrier which is not registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier which is registered with the AKC. In the past, these breeds were all bred to be fighting dogs. Now that this activity is illegal, these pit bull breeds have an undeserved reputation for fighting. This is a dog for an experienced owner and prospective buyers should also check their local area bylaws and also their household insurance to see if there is any restriction on this breed of dog.

9. Parson Russell Terrier

The small-sized Jack Russell Terrier (#72) is known as the Parson Russell Terrier in the U.S. The Parson (Jack) Russell is the most energetic, fearless and athletic of all the terrier dog breeds. The Parson Russell demands full participation in the family activities with lots of physical and mental challenges. If the Jack Russell gets too little exercise and companionship, then this cheerful little dog will get bored and become destructive. The Parson Russell can be very aggressive towards strange dogs and even other family dogs. The Parson (Jack) Russell needs a lot of early socialization while a puppy and adolescent to curb aggressive behavior. These strong-willed Terriers need lots of early and on-going obedience training to ensure the owner and not the dog is in charge. The Parson Russell gets along well with older children - especially those that will play ball or Frisbee with him.

10. White Fox Terrier

The small-sized Wire Fox Terriers (#76) are one of the liveliest and most energetic of all the terrier breeds. The two varieties, the Wire haired and the Smooth, differ only in coat type. These Terriers are very intelligent, curious, cheerful and love their families. The breed has so much energy that it will play and chase a ball or Frisbee for hours on end. Fox Terriers make great playmates for older children but still retain their hunting instincts and shouldn't be left alone with small pets. These Terriers should be kept on their leashes when being walked. The breed has a stubborn streak and socialization and training should be started when they are puppies and continued into adulthood.

Dear dairyIm not sure if anyone reads this anymore but that’s what have been happeningI had a big fight with camy yesterday, she then decided to leave so I followed her and kept on screaming at her.I was pissed off, I m not sorry coz of what I did coz if I didn’t put a line for her so would have opened it in skool and then I would have lost my temper….yea and I don’t feel like screaming at the top pf my lungs at skool in the middle of the hall way.

Had a fight with my mom also, it was pretty bad coz I wouldn’t shut up.Here is the thing, I cant keep anything inside of me anymore, well if I did, im gonna go back to cutting coz I cant take it…this week was horrible, I felt like cutting every fucking damn day.Im going crazy, I try to put a stop to what im thinking but I just want it.I wanna cut just one last time but u know what, its almost 3 months and I don’t wanna ruin it for myself.But I keep on planning where to get a knife, should I burn myself with fire, should I do that, or do this…those lead me to death.I thought about it again and I know that I can do it, what is stopping me is that I don’t wanna hurt ppl.Whats also stopping me is that I don’t wanna be like my friend, when my time is up that means is up.What I keep on wondering about is the day that I knew she was gone, I start thinking about stuff that could keep me going throw life, what did I really have?I was stupid not to find any answers but I do now.Its just weird coz we r all alive now and we r all trying to become something, in the end we r all gonna die and what we have now wont be anything.So whats the point of living if were gonna lose all that and die some day, why not do it now and get it over with.

I start thinking about how it would be like to die..it was sad and I start crying coz I know I should stop myself but in the same time, I didn’t want too.I wanted to cry ,I want to hurt myself.I wanna do it for whatever that I did and was stupid for hurting ppl, for caring way too much about someone that doesn’t give a shit about me.

But its all over now ,I mean I can not do it…im still not sure why but if someday I had kids ,I don’t wanna be like this for them.The funny part is that when someone die, they die, they wont come back.Like they were here, laughing but there dead now.There isn’t anything left ,shes barred in the ground, by the years she will be eaten by worms and other insects..I used to live for someone else, that person died and they would never come back…inside of me is someone whos going and looking for another reason to live, but I didn’t realize that there is ppl who care about me than her…I fucking decided to suicide, how stupid can that be…I cant believe im that stupid, I started it for myself, I made myself depressed with a ll of this stupid shit that’s in my head!I hate myself…u know wishing to die is something that I will always want but I wont do it not that I don’t have the guts, its because its not worth what I will lose in the future..whatever my future is, it will be gone when I die but still, I will come back to life again right, who knows what happen when u die anywayz lolHave fun with my thoughts and thinking ^^

Hello ! We are the students of the faculty of psychology from the State University - Higher School of Economics (Moscow, Russia). We are conducting researches connected with depression and we need Your help ! I ask only Those of you who has been suffering from depression for a long time - if You don't worry about losing 10 minutes of Your time then, please, fill in our form: http://angelion-87.narod.ru/Tests/Test_Zerkalo.doc and post it to angelion-87@mail.ru

Well I need help with something and I hope each one of u well help me!Everyone knows that the International Self-Injury Awareness Day is on March the first, im doing something for skool in that day, I made ribbons and all!I was thinking of putting some quotes on it, Its gonna be like who us cutter r been treated, it could be about a doctor!Like something like this, I cut one day but my cuts didn’t heal very well so I had to go to a doctor and he screamed at me and told me that what im doing is so uncool and wrong!U know something like that, it seems everyone is complaining about doctors but I want something else than that, how its like u know….I hope u guys would help me in here, this thing is going to be finished this Thursday so I hope u can give me some stuff very fast.Oh yeah if anyone can also suggest some proper pictures to go with that day or any new ideas that can help, we would be gladly appreciated!You can email me at sawsanborno@yahoo.comOrToocute4anybody@hotmail.comThank you…

1350+ members. Self Injury/Suicide support community. Anyone can join.If you SI, used to, think about it, know someone who does, etc; feel free to join.It isn't pro or anti SI, it for support, and support you *will* get there or could give.

It's like a big family more than anything, with new people comingeveryday & sometimes people feeling recovered enough to leave.

It is a safe place to go and let things out, ask for help/adviceor anything of that sort; and it will continue to be safe too.

Remember to read the rules if you join, they're easy to follow but very important. :)

I don't know how many of you have heard about this, but it is very important: March 1st is International Self-Injury Awareness Day. That means SPREAD THE WORD. Misconceptions about self-injury in society are rampant. People need to be educated, especially authority figures. This means police, teachers, parents, medical workers, employers, and anyone else who can affect you in situations regarding SI.

There are a few things you can do to raise awareness.

1. Pamphlets. This is a very good way to reach people. You can put them up at school, work, in hospitals, police stations, supermarkets, libraries...the list goes on. It can really help.

2. Presentations. Organizing a forum where you can reach people face to face is a great idea. You can hold them for students, for parents, for medical workers, policement, local employers, general public...anything you like. I realize that probably no one will do something like this, but it's something to think about. It's a much more effective way of reaching people.

3. Contact your mayor, governor, MP (for Canadians), etc. Ask them to get involved. They can do things like wear ribbons (red and black), help with leaflets, etc. It's important to get community leaders involved.

4. Contact newspapers. Do a few letters to the editor, maybe write a research piece or an 'expose' so to speak. You can ask to remain anonymous, obviously, so privacy shouldn't be an issue. And hell, if you're really brave, get someone to do an interview with you.

5. Spread the word online. Send out messages on the major sites (LJ and MySpace, for instance). Go to communities, send PMs to random people, write articles, blog entries...anything. After all, communication is one of the main reasons for the internet's existence.

This is a chance for the issue to get a little bit of understanding, to shed a little light on it. Right now, this is a completely grassroots movement. Governments are not getting involved, and they need to be doing so. The only way that will happen is if March 1st becomes KNOWN to the world. And it's up to us to make sure that happens.

You don't have to do much. A pamphlet here, a ribbon there...it doesn't have to be a big campaign. But PLEASE, if you feel strongly about this issue, get involved somehow.

This will be x-posted to pretty much every SI and mental health community I can get my hands on.

yesterday was the most fucked up day ever!my mom yelled at me so fucking much, she said all those mean things to me, that im a bitch and that why everyone hates me and that im a laier and a slut..im not gona even write everything because i will cry, but guss what, do u wana guss what happen coz she got all mad, do u want too, huh

well we were talking and i wanted to send domething to my g/f, some songs okay, i got a big red page that ays ther was an erro so i turned around and fixed it..my mom got ALL FUCING MAD AT ME COZ OF THAT, she made it as if it was a big deal, that im not respictful sp enof..that i choose the damn pc over her!wtf! GOd she has to do something to make me so mad, she orderd me to apoligase so i said i dont think i should say sorry to u coz i did nuthin, she grabed me from my hand and throwed me in my fucking room, after that she told me there will be no food, and u wont get out of the room untill u come out to me and apologiase, ur gona stay here like a dog with nuthin to do, ur not gona write either, if i saw a pincle in ur hands ur see what will happen to u!and she just slamed the door in my face!

i got so mad, and my problem is that i do not know how to take it out, i cant write what i feel down, i went mad too! i grabed my knife and start cutting and cutting an cutting, i was even bleeding but i didnt feel it, my wiste is a mess, k! i cant stand up or sit down either so thats just perfect!

i feel so bad coz i did not do anything so i would get this shit!anyhow my mom came again and told me to say sorry, s o i said itBUT NO, SHE DOESNT WANT IT LIKE THAT!she made me to follow her to the living room, and listen to what she said, ur gona say sorry and ur eyes will be on the floor just like a dog, and ur gona stand strat, ur handson the side!after she fucking said that, i just walked back to my room..but icould coz she hold my hand tight, till now and it hurts me, but where did she hold it, on my burn mark so emagine the pain....i said sorry, coz i wanted to go, she said no,i said it agai, aover and over..but she just kept on saying no...I HATE U MOM!

fanilly, i managed to go and she came back to my room yelling at me all over again, but ya know what, i cant answear back coz she will fucking beat me up..she was yelling and i was thinking of how to suicide!thats when im like well great! she keep yelling plzshe started praying to God infront of me that my kids will be just like me!cutting, maybe drugs, get rape..and i start cryingcoz i want my kids to be happy and get so much love that i never got, ya knowand so after she finished she said to me

i hate u coz u talk just like ur father! i hate u because u act like him! i hate u because u hate ur dad so much, coz u think that hes a laier and a cheater and a failthy dog but U R JUST LIKE HIM..thats why i hate u so much coz no matter what i do, u will always be like ur father..and she walked away....

NOW REALLY TELL ME HOW AM I SUPOSE TO FEEL HUH!i hate my father and she was just was just saying that im like him, huh..shouldnt i just kill myself and let her live in peace and be happy, but what did i do that was SO FUCKING WRONG so she would scream at me huh!?nuthin....after an hour my mom came and she kissed me and told me that im sorry..i huged heri forgive her though but i cant forgive myself for being just like my dad, though i dont know how he acts or talk, i mean he havnt lived with us sence my baby sister has been born, sence i got sick and has been throwen in the hospitals...3 FUCKING YEARS!

the only comfort that i have is cutting, i love u sarah and im sorry for not being this perfect g/f coz i know damn well that i am not coz if i was no one would have cheated on me so..im sorry

i have a problem , and i just dont wana cut anymore , i dont think i can, if my mom wouldnt stop doing that, guss what on top of all that im gona be living with my dad again so my life is so fucked up..i wish someone would kidnape me, rape me and kill me..i dont care, i gave up on life!bye

Here I go againThrowing u with painful wordsPainful words that soon will kills ur heartIm sorryBut guilt doesnt help ur sour heartI dont get itEverything that I do is wrongNo matter what I say to make u feel better It just comes out wrongI love uDont u see thatBut I keep on hurting uKilling u insideTearing u upBelieve me when I sayThat my heart tears up tooKnowing that ur tears r falling coz of me..Knowing that ur in pain coz of meKnowing that no matter how I try..i end up doing the wrong thingI put u downIm sorryI dont get itU say that u love meBut how can u..if everything that I do is a mistakeU say that u love me..But other times u U say that u hate me..All I know thatIf I was gone..I wont cause u painU wont have what u call a problem to take care ofAnd u wont cry..And I wont have to see u crying anymoreI ruined ur lifei ruined everybodys livesI feel that my life is a waste of timeNo good comes out of itBut I keep goingEveryday..diffrent feelingsIt all makes me wana dieCoz all I want right now isTO FUCKING DIE

hello there im new!well im 13 and i have been cutting for 4years now! not just that i burn myself too....i stopped for a good year so im left ..with only 3years of cutting, i have resons to it, not just b/f or g/f problems....my resons might sound stupid to ppl but to me they arentim trying so hard to stop cutting but i cant!i used to only cut when i need it, when im so mad and i just wana let it all out but by the time, i start cutting coz i like it, i love it when the blood falls, i love the feeling of the blade, sometimes i wonder why is it so wrong but yet againit is wrong! and thats thatoh well i havnt cut for 4 days..i have been trying to stop for one month and a half...oh yes, i could only reach 16 days without cutting and believe me its bad..i love cutting but im trying to stop and i really hope i do! my mom only found out this year well two or tree months ago and sence then im trying to stop, my mom started to treat me very good, what i mean by found out, it ment that the police came to my house coz i wanted to suicide and thats how she found out, not pretty!anyhow im normal but a i keep thinking of suicide, not that much anymore though and im so happy about it, my mental health thing said that im doing better and so i jut want to be a normal girl, not a freak or some weird bitch...

Hello Darlings. How are all of you? Im doing swell. Im not new to Lj, new to this community, and new to this name but not new to Lj. I need some assistance, some..."Help" may I say. I need you to call me wonderful, beautiful, vibrant, and adorable. Because I am so sick of being stepped on, and I just need that. Find out more info from my journal, I must go now. Tootles!

I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I have insomnia so I don't sleep at all. Was up for 28 hours before I finally got 4 hours of sleep. I'm thinking about going back to therapy. That's actually my goal before Xmas...to find a competent therapist. I'm out of medication and am seriously feeling it. There's got to be an easier way of dealing with all this stuff. I hate having to take a pill in order to make it through the day, in order to get some sleep, so I don't hallucinate/hear voices. What a life this has become. And to think at one time I thought I had a bright future ahead.

I'm going through alot of stuff at the moment. My dad isn't living with us because he is under police investigation for sexual molestation of a child. So he can't be alone with us at any time. School is hard, I'm pretty much by myself. I've been cutting for 4 years and I cut 3 days ago. I'm trying to stop...kinda. But sometimes I just get frustrated and cut. Longest I've gone is 45 days.

Right now I'm just overwhelmed.

I can't find anyone to talk to and I don't know what to do.

Is it stupid to want to go to a mental health center? I just want to feel safe and cared for and not have to worry about anything until I get stuff in my head straightened out.